Smith Lake
Washington County, Wisconsin85 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Smith Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 5 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Smith Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 85 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Smith Lake. DNR survey details →
Smith Lake is a 85-acre lake in Washington County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Smith Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Smith Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Smith Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Smith Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. TSI 57.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 57 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Smith Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Smith Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 104 field readings (2025–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Smith Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Smith Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Smith Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2025. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
5 ft
Surface area
85 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.6 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
922 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Smith LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Smith Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Smith Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Smith Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Follow Smith Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Smith Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2025–2026). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Stable2 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Smith Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kewaskum Wastewater TreatmentKewaskum, Village Of · 3.1 mi away · NPDES WI0021733Recent violation
- Kettle Moraine Egg Ranch LlcKewaskum · 4.3 mi away · NPDES WI0056677Recent violation
- Interstate Oil, Inc.Shorewood · 3.6 mi away · NPDES IL0072702
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Smith Lake
Where is Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake is a lake in Washington County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 85 acres.
Is Smith Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 104 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 85 acres.
What fish are in Smith Lake?
- Fish species found in Smith Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Smith Lake is located in Washington County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Smith Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Smith Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Smith Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Smith Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Smith Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX29 samples · 2025–2026
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory